Duterte recounts how he got exposed to COVID-19
President Rodrigo Duterte. (File photo from Malacañang)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte recounted on Monday, two weeks after being absent from the public eye, how he got exposed to someone with COVID-19
He did not stay in Malacaãng when he found out that he was exposed to a COVID-positive staff member, he said in his taped weekly “Talk to the People” briefing.
“There’s a house that was turned into like a conference room. It’s so big, and there are no people there. Now, it’s good that my wife arrived. When I got there, I got [exposed to] COVID. So they watched over me,” he said in Filpino.
According to him, the staffer was concerned about his health as he had an accident while riding a motorcycle. Duterte said he had a slightly misaligned lumbar area, — or his lower back. So he was staying in a place built by Sen. Christopher Go, his longtime aide.
In his room, he said he was surrounded by his guards.
Article continues after this advertisementThe staffer who had COVID-19 might have also skipped mandatory quarantine, Duterte said.
Article continues after this advertisementHe did not identify the staffer, an Ilocano.
“Many soldiers who are Ilocano went out, but they did not quarantine. When I came from there, I was exposed,” Duterte said.
But when he had a checkup on returning to Malacañang, he said he tested negative for the coronavirus.
“It does not show anything, but my doctor brought me along. I had a checkup and was injected with I don’t know — because my blood was thick. Even when I was checked for COVID-19, nothing — because my vaccination was complete,” he said,
He then urged the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte had been exposed to a COVID-positive individual on Jan. 28, and he immediately underwent quarantine.
He tested negative for the virus on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and was able to discontinue his quarantine by Feb. 3.
Malacañang assured that the President remains “healthy” for his age, which is 76.
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